Single release for parachute harness

ABSTRACT

On a parachute harness, shoulder straps with manually releasable disconnect devices connecting to shrouds of the parachute; each shoulder strap is also connected by a releasable connection which is released by the action of gas under pressure. The chest belt 6 is also made in two parts connected to one another by a separable connection which can be separated either manually or by the introduction of gas pressure; each leg belt of the harness has also parts connected by separable connection either by manipulation or by the introduction of gas pressure; a cartridge container secured on one of the straps or to the harness has a manipulable cartridge piercing device and is connected by suitable flexible conduits to all the separable connections so that when the piercing device is manipulated and pierces the cartridge, the escaping gas under pressure is quickly conducted to all the severable connections and quickly releases all the harness straps and belts so that the person can quickly divest himself of the parachute harness by a single manipulation.

United States Patent Gaylord 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [72] Inventor: John A. Gaylord, San Rafael, Calif.

[73] Assignee: H. Koch 8: Sons, Inc., a division of Global Systems, a Gulf & Western Company, Corte Madera, Calif.

22 Filed: Dec. 24, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 887,929

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,404,439 10/1968 .lonesetal. ..244/151X 3,090,979 5/1963 Segrest ..9/318 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 543,587 7/1957 Canada ..244/1 22 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Howard W. Sams Modern Dictionary of Electronics, compiled by Rudolf F. Graf, published Jan. 1962 by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. of Indianapolis and New York. Library of Congress Catalog Number 61-18659 (see page 347) Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge Attorney-George B. White [57] ABSTRACT On a parachute harness, shoulder straps with manually releasable disconnect devices connecting to shrouds of the parachute; each shoulder strap is also connected by a releasable connection which is released by the action of gas under pressure. The chest belt 6 is also made in two parts connected to one another by a separable connection which can be separated either manually or by the introduction of gas pressure; each leg belt of the harness has also parts connected by separable connection either by manipulation or by the introduction of gas pressure; a cartridge container secured on one of the straps or to the harness has a manipulable cartridge piercing device and is connected by suitable flexible conduits to all the separable connections so that when the piercing device is manipulated and pierces the cartridge, the escaping gas under pressure is quickly conducted to all the severable connections and quickly releases all the harness straps and belts so that the person can quickly divest himself of the parachute harness by a single manipulation.

22 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 5 I972 SHEET 15F 6 I N VENTOR.

' JOHN A. G AYLORD ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPRZS m2 3,658,281

sum 2 0r 6 'INVENTOR. JOHN A. GAYLORD A TTORNE Y PATENTED APR 2 5 1972 SHEET 3 BF 6 TTOR IVE) P'A'IENTfnAPazs I972 3.658281 SHEET 6 UF 6 INVENTOR. 014M 14. GA w-olab ATTORNEY SINGLE RELEASE FOR PARACIIUTE HARNESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is vital to aircraft personnel who depend on a parachute that upon landing they be quickly freed from the harness. It is also important that aircraft personnel be able to manually free themselves from the harness when so desired.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a single point manipulable release for multiple web connectors whereby by the pulling of a single manipulating element all of the multiple strap connectors can be simultaneously released or disconnected thereby to provide for quick escape from the harness.

Another feature of the invention is to provide multiple web connectors connected to a single source of gas under pressure whereby a manipulable device at a single point can release gas under pressure to separate all of the multiple web connectors simultaneously, and which also provides for optional manual release of the multiple connecting devices for the purpose of putting on or taking off the harness.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective somewhat diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the straps or webs and the quick releasing connections and devices on a harness shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connections and straps released after the actuation of the device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of one of the disconnect devices in web connecting position, the section being taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view of said web connecting device in web releasing attitude.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the disconnect device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the disconnect device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmental sectional view taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a partly sectional view of one of the releasable strap connectors in connected position, the section being taken on lines 8-8 ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a partly sectional view of saidreleasable strapconnector, the section being taken on lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a partly sectional view showing the releasable strap connector separated, the section being taken on lines 10-10 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is a partly sectional view of the'releasable strap connector separated, the section being taken on lines 111 l of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the cartridge holder and gas release device.

FIG. 13 is a fragmental sectional view showing the cartridge piercing device in piercing position.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the cartridge holder and releasing device showing a different arrangement forthe actuating lever.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A harness body 1 fitsover the back of the person and has shoulder straps 2 extended over the shoulders ofthe person toward the-chest. The lower portion 3 of the harness body 1 is at about the seat of the person and has leg-belts 4 extendedto be wrapped around the thigh of theperson. A chest belt 6 extends across the chest of the person and is connected at its opposite-ends'to the respective shoulder belts 2. The harness body I is preferably a flexible sheet which may or may not be suitably padded.

Each shoulder strap 2 is divided into a portion that extends over the shoulder and a front portion 7 which is suitably at tached to a lower flap 8, for instance by means of a connecting ring 9. Each lower strap portion 7 is detachably connected to its shoulder strap 2 by a severable disconnectdevice 10. This disconnect device 10 is automatically openable by the introduction of a pressure medium in a manner to be hereinafter described. The disconnect device 10 is connected by a short web 11 to the female part of a releasable strap connector 12 of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,014 granted on July 11, 1967. Said female part is also connected to the shoulder strap 2. The male part 13 fitting into the releasable strap connector 12 is suitably connected to a shroud 14 of a parachute. The leg belts 4 have their lower ends 16 attached to a seat belt 17 so as to extend up between the legs of the person. The upper ends of each leg belt 4 is connected to a releasable strap connector 18 of the same general type as the releasable strap connector 12 and 13, except that the male part 19 of the strap connector is on the free end of the leg belt 4 whereby the length of the leg belt can be adjusted. This male part 19 is of the general type shown in Gaylord U.S. Pat. No. 2,393,713 issued on Dec. 27, I966. The female part 21 of this releasable strap connector 18 is also modified to be automatically openable by the introduction of a pressure medium in a manner to be hereinafter described. This female part 21 of the releasable strap connector I8 is connected to another flap 22 extended from the seat portion of the harness body 1.

The chest belt 6 has an adjustable portion 23 attached to one of the lower shoulder strap portions 7 with its free end in the male part 19 of the releasable strap connector 18. The female part 21 of this releasable strap connector 18 is connected in the usual manner to another portion 24 of the chest belt 6 fixedly secured to the other lower shoulder strap portion 7.

A cartridge container 26 has its body flange 27 secured to one of the lower shoulder strap portions 7. A chamber 28 in said container 26 has a pair of outlets 29 suitably connected to flexible conduits 31 and 32, which flexible conduits 31 and 32 are then connected respectively to the severable disconnect devices 10 and to the respective female members 21 of the releasable strap connectors 12 and 18, so that when the cartridge 30 in the container 26 is pierced and the pressure medium released into the chamber 28, then the pressure medium flows into the respective separable disconnect devices 10 and into the female parts 21 of the strap connectors 12 and 18 for simultaneously releasing all connections. A removable cap 33 on the top ofthe container 26 is provided for the insertion and removal of the cartridge 30 with the outlet end of the cartridge projecting toward a tip 34. On this tip 34 is pivoted a lever 35 the inner end of which bears against a piercing plunger 36 in alignment with the outlet end of the usual cartridge 30. A coil spring 37 urges the piercing plunger 36 outwardly. The lever 35 extends alongside the container 26 and has a pull cord 38 thereon whereby the person can pull and turn the lever 35 so as to move the piercing plunger 36 against and into the plugged end of the cartridge 30 thereby to release the pressure medium therefrom, which pressure medium then flows into the chamber 28 and out through the flexible conduits 31 and 32.

In the illustrative system herein the flexible conduit 31 is connected to the severable connecting device 10 on the adjacent shoulder strap portion 7. The other flexible conduit 32 is connected to a flat distributing chamber 39 suitably imbedded in the harness body 1.

A flexible conduit 41 extends from the distributing chamber 39 through the upper shoulder strap 2 farthest from the cartridge container 26 and then through the strap 2 to the adjacent severable disconnect device 10.

A pair of flexible conduits 42 extend from the distributing chamber 39 to the opposite flaps 22 to connect to the female parts 21 of the respective releasable strap connectors 18 for the leg belts 4. Another flexible conduit 43 extends to the female part 21 of the releasable strap connector 18 of the chest belt 6. The flexible conduits may be suitably attached to the body 1 and the respective fixed parts of the straps.

The disconnect device 10 includes a frame 51, an end 52 of which is fixed and another end 53 is connected by a pivot 54 to the free end of a transverse bar 56 of the frame 51, on which bar 56 is permanently secured a strap or web, for instance in the illustration in FIG. 1 the short web 11.

Another cross bar 57 is pivoted on the ends 52 opposite and spaced from the fixed cross bar 56, on a pivot 58. This pivoted cross bar 57 supports another strap or web, for instance, in the illustration in FIG. 1 the lower part of the shoulder strap 7. The pivoted cross bar 57 is held in place by the pivoted end 53 and for this purpose the pivoted end 53 has a cross head 59 thereon. The pivoted cross bar 57 is formed with a fork 61 at its free end straddling the pivoted end 53 and resting on the cross head 59 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Thus whenever the pivoted end 53 is swung away from the body 51 so as to withdraw the cross head 59 from the fork 61, the pivoted cross bar 57 swings about its pivot 58 from the position shown in FIG. 3 into the position shown in FIG. 4 thereby releasing the shoulder strap 7.

The pivoted end 53 of this disconnect device is held in locked position by a latch 62 pivoted on a pivot 63 in the pivoted end 53 and projecting into a keeper hole 64 in a tubular body 66. A coil spring 67 nested in a pocket 68 in the pivoted end 53 bears against the latch 62 pressing it into the keeper hole 64. An inclined finger 69 is pressed against the point 71 of the tubular plunger 72 reciprocable in the cavity 73 in the tubular body 66. An intake passage 74 is connected by suitable conduits to a source of pressure medium, for instance, in the illustration shown in FIG. 1 by the flexible conduit 41 to the distributing chamber 39. On the other disconnect device the flexible conduit 31 connects the intake passage 74 directly to the cartridge chamber 28.

The tubular plunger 72 is closed at both ends and it rides on a block 77 fixed by a cross pin 78 to the tubular body 66. The tubular plunger 72 has slots 79 riding on the cross pin 78. A coil spring 81 between the plug 82 in the end of the tubular plunger 72 adjacent the intake passage 74 and the block 77 normally urges the tubular plunger 72 into the initial position against the end of the intake passage 74. Whenever a pressure medium is introduced through the intake passage 74 it presses the tubular plunger 72 toward the pivoted end 53, compressing the coil spring 81 as shown in FIG. 4. During the movement of the tubular plunger 72 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the plunger point 71 presses the inclined finger 69 downwardly compressing the coil spring 67 and withdrawing the latch 63 from the keeper hole 64, thereby to push the pivoted end 53 outwardly and out of the way of the fork 61 of the pivoted cross bar 57, which latter, by swinging into the position shown in FIG. 4 releases and disconnects the shoulder strap 7. After the gas pressure is relieved the coil spring 81 returns the tubular plunger 72 to its initial position shown in FIG. 3, whereupon the pivoted cross bar 57 and the pivoted end 53 can be again interlocked for again connecting the shoulder strap 7 as heretofore described.

The releasable strap connector 18 is generally of the same type as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,330,014 on Releasable Strap Connector, issued on July 11, 1967 to John A. Gaylord. This releasable strap connector is modified so as to adapt it for release by gas pressure in addition to the previous manual releasing devices. The female member 21 of this releasable strap connector includes a pair of parallel flanges 87 which are connected by transverse body 88. The cross-sectional area of the body 88 is smaller than the area of the respective flanges 87 so that each flange has a lug 89 extended beyond the body to accommodate a suitable strap holder element 91 which holds a strap or webbing, such as the flap 22 for the leg belt 4, or the short strap 11 connecting the parts of the shoulder strap 7. The body 88 has a pair of socket holes 92 parallel with the flanges 87 and a bearing hole 93 intersecting the socket holes 92 transversely. As described in the aforementioned patent, the bearing hole 93 is of circular cross-section and one-half of the bearing hole is located within and across the socket holes 92. A locking shaft 94 is in the bearing hole 93. The locking shaft 94 has a pair of cut-away portions 96, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, in registry with the respective socket holes 92. The cut-away portions 96 are cut on the same diametrical plane of the locking shaft 94 so that when the locking shaft 94 is turned into releasing position as shown in FIG. 11, the cut-away portions 96 complement the socket holes 92 respectively, thereby leaving the socket holes 92 unobstructed for the insertion and removal of prongs 97 of the male member 19. Each prong 97 is provided with a keeper recess 99, as clearly shown in FIG. 11 which recesses face the respective cut-away portions 96 so that when the locking shaft 94 is in locking position as shown in FIG. 6, it projects into the keeper recess 99 and obstructs the removal of the prongs 97 of the male member 19.

For simplification of this form there is provided a lever 101 on a pivot shaft 102 which has a finger 103 opposite the corresponding finger 104 extended radially from the locking shaft 94 as shown in FIG. 9, so that when the lever, which is suitably cupped for manipulation, is turned from the position shown in FIG. 9 into the position shown in FIG. 11, then by the turning of the finger 103, pushes upwardly the finger 104 thereby turning the locking shaft 94 from the position shown in FIG. 9 into the releasing position shown in FIG. 11. A suitable spring described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,0l4 is provided for yieldably returning the locking shaft 94 into its locking position after each operation.

The male member 19 has a suitable cross pin 106 for accommodating another strap such as the leg belt 4 or the shroud 14, as the case may be.

For automatic actuation for the simultaneous release of the connections, another projection 107 is extended tangentially from the locking shaft 94 in opposite direction to the finger 104. A cam 108, journalled on a cross pin 109, bears against the projection 107. An arm 111 extended from the cam 108 through a slot 112 into a tube 113 operates the cam 108 according to gas pressure in a manner to be hereinafter described so as to move the cam 108 from the position shown in FIG. 9 into position shown in FIG. 11 thereby to turn the riser of the cam against the projection 107 and turn the locking shaft 94 into the releasing position shown in FIG. 11. While FIG. 11 shows the lever 101 also in shaft releasing position, it is to be understood that the manipulation of the lever 101 is optional and is independent of the operation of the cam 108. In other words, in actual practice either the lever 101 would be in the position shown in FIG. 11 or the cam 108 would be in the position shown in FIG. 11 and the showing in FIG. 11 is only for illustrating both of these devices in releasing position.

The force of the gas pressure for actuating the cam 108 is transmitted through a plurality of balls 114 rolling in the suitably curved tube 113. The end 116 of the tube is in the closed end ofa cylinder 117 above the body 88 and between the projections 89. The cylinder 117 is supported on said projections. In the cylinder moves a piston 118, a reduced end 119 of which is insertable-in the adjacent end 116 of the tube so as to transmit pressure to the balls 114. A coil spring 121 in the cylinder 117 normally urges the piston 118 toward the intake end of the cylinder, thereby to withdraw the reduced end 119 from the adjacent tube end 116 as shown in FIG. 8. The intake end of the cylinder is connected by a suitable flexible tube, such as flexible conduit 42, to the distributing chamber 39.

As gas under pressure is introduced through the conduit 42 it forces the piston 118 from the position shown in FIG. 8 into the position shown in FIG. 10 and the force transmitted by the reduced end 119 to the balls 114 is thus applied against the arm 111 and turns the cam into the position shown in FIG.11, thereby to disconnect the strap connection as heretofore described.

In operation the person connects the respective releasable strap connectors 12 to the parachute shroud 14 and also connects the releasable strap connectors 18 of the chest belt 6 and of the leg belts 4. The person can also disconnect the same connections by pulling down the lever 101. For quick release the person pulls on the cord 38, thereby turns the lever 35 so as to push the piercing plunger 36 to pierce the plugged end of the cartridge 30. The compressed gas under pressure flowing out through the outlets 29 flows through the respective flexible conduits 31, 32, through the distributing chamber 39 and the flexible conduits 41, 42 and 43, quickly and simultaneously opens the disconnect devices of the shoulder straps 7 and releases the releasable strap connectors 18 of the chest belt 6 and the leg belts 4, therefore quickly divesting the person of the parachute harness.

lclaim:

1. In a single release device for a parachute harness, the combination with a harness having several webs for securing on a person of,

connecting devices for securing said webs in harnessing position,

a web holder part of each connecting device being releasable to free said web,

means to hold said web holding part in connecting position,

a gas pressure actuated member for releasing said holder means,

a single gas pressure supply means,

means to conduct said gas from said supply means to each of said gas pressure actuated members for simultaneously releasing said holding means,

and a single manipulable device for said supply means carried on said harness to release said gas into all said conducting means.

2. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and

manipulatable means for disconnecting certain of said separable web connecting means independently of said pressure medium actuated devices.

3. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 2, and

said gas pressure supply means including a cartridge containing gas under pressure,

a hollow closed container mounted on said harness and fixedly holding said cartridge,

outlets from said hollow container,

piercing elements adjacent the penetrable portion of said cartridge,

said manipulatable means including a hand lever on the outside of said hollow body related to said piercing element for forcing said piercing element into said penetrable portion thereby to release the gas under pressure from said cartridge into said hollow container and to said outlets, said harness including a harness body fitting on the back ofa person,

said separable webs including shoulder straps extending from said harness body over the shoulders ofa person and downwardly toward the legs, leg belts extending from said harness body around the thighs and then upwardly to be connected to said body, a chest belt intersecting the shoulder straps over the chest of a person,

said separable connecting devices being respectively interconnected in each shoulder strap, in each leg belt and in said chest belt.

4. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 3, and

a system of conduits connecting said outlet to the respective separable connecting devices for simultaneous releasing of said separable connecting devices.

5. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and

said harness including a harness body fitting on the back of a person,

said several webs including shoulder straps extending from said harness body over the shoulders of a person and downwardly toward the legs,

leg belts extending from said harness body around the thighs and then upwardly to be connected to said body, a chest belt intersecting the shoulder straps over the chest of a person,

said separable connecting devices being respectively interconnected in each shoulder strap, in each leg belt and in said chest belt.

6. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 5, and

said gas pressure conducting means including a system of flexible conduits from said gas pressure supply means to each of said actuated members of the separable connecting devices respectively interconnected in said shoulder straps, leg belts and chest belt.

7. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 6 wherein said system of flexible conduits includes a distributing chamber on the harness body.

8. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 5, and

each separable connecting device in said shoulder straps including a male and a female member,

manipulatable means to release the male member from the female member,

one of said members being connectable to a shroud, and

said gas pressure actuated member being connected to the other member of said separable connection.

9. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 8, and

said separable connecting device including a frame,

a fixed element of said frame connected to one strap,

said web holder part being a pivoted strap holder for the other strap on said frame.

10. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 9, and

a hollow body in said frame between said strap holder elements,

a releasable latch inter-connecting said pivoted element with said hollow body,

a piston reciprocating in said hollow body for engaging and releasing said latch and to push said bar into releasing position when said gas pressure is introduced into said hollow body.

11. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 5, and

said separable connecting devices interconnected in said leg belts and said chest belt including a male member and a female member connected respectively to the separable portions of said belts, said male member being said releasable web holder part,

engaging prongs on said male member,

keeper pockets in said female member engageable by said prongs,

said means to releasably hold said web holder part being means to releasably lock said prongs in said keeper pockets,

means operated by said gas pressure actuated member to release said locking means,

said manipulatable means for disconnecting certain of said separable web connecting means being connected to said locking means in said female member.

12. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 11, and

said locking means including a rocking shaft in said female member intersecting said keeper pockets having cut-away portions to complement said keeper pockets in releasing position, and said prongs having keeper recesses for engagement with said rocking shaft in the rocking position,

said manipulatable means including a hand lever on the outside of the female member connected to said rocking shaft for manually rocking said shaft into prong releasing position.

13. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 3, and

said pressure actuated separable connecting device including a frame a fixed element of said frame connected to one strap,

said releasable web holder holding the other strap and being pivoted on said frame so as to release said other strap when swung into releasing position,

a releasable element on said frame to hold said pivoted web holder in strap connecting position,

said releasable element being operated by said gas pressure actuated member,

said separable connecting devices interconnected in said leg belts and said chest belt including a male member and a female member connected respectively to the separable portions of said belts, said male member being said releasable web holder part,

engaging prongs in said male member,

keeper pockets in said female member engageable by said prongs,

means to releasably lock said prongs in said keeper pockets,

means operated by said pressure medium to release said locking means,

said manipulatable means for disconnecting certain of said separable web connecting means being connected to said locking means in said female member.

14. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and

said gas pressure supply means including a normally sealed cartridge containing gas under pressure,

a hollow container for said cartridge having a closed chamber to receive said gas under pressure from said cartridge,

outlets from said chamber connected to said pressure medium conducting means,

means to open the seal of said cartridge to permit the escape ofthe gas under pressure therefrom, and

said manipulatable means operating said seal opening means.

15. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and

said gas pressure supply means including a cartridge containing gas under pressure,

a hollow closed container holding said cartridge,

outlet from said hollow container connected to said pressure medium conducting means,

a piercing element adjacent the sealed end of said cartridge,

said manipulatable means including a hand lever on the outside of said hollow body for forcing said piercing element into said sealed end to release the gas under pressure from said cartridge.

16. A separable strap connecting device comprising a frame,

parallel strap holding sides on said frame, one of said strap holding sides being fixed, and the other strap holding side being pivoted to swing from a strap holding position into a strap releasing position,

a locking bar pivoted on said fixed strap holding side and engaged with said pivoted strap holding side to hold said pivoted strap holding side in an initial strap connecting position,

a hollow body in said frame between said strap holding sides,

latch means connecting said locking bar to said hollow body in engagement with said pivoted strap holding side in strap connecting position,

a pressure operated plunger engaging said latch for releasing said latch means when said plunger is operated in said cavity thereby to move said locking bar out of engagement from said pivoted strap holding side,

and means to conduct a pressure medium into said hollow body for pushing said plunger to release said latch. 17. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 16, and

resilient means normally to urge said plunger into an initial position permitting the interlocking of said latch means between said bar and said hollow body.

18. A separable strap connecting device comprising a male member connected to one strap,

prongs on said male member,

a female member having keeper pockets to receive said prongs and being adapted to be connected to another stra releas ble means to lock said prongs in said keeper pockets,

means actuated by a pressure medium to release said locking means, and

means to apply pressure medium to said pressure medium operated releasing means.

19. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 18 and manipulatable means on said female member to release said locking means independently of said pressure medium operation.

20. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 18, and

said locking means being a rocking shaft having cut-away portions alignable with said keeper pockets in spring releasing position,

said prongs having recesses therein engageable with said rocking shaft in the locking position of said shaft, and

means to transmit the force of the pressure medium through said pressure medium actuated means to said rocking shaft so as to rock said shaft into spring releasing position.

21. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 20, and

said force transmitting means including a cam device related to said rocking shaft for turning said rocking shaft into prong releasing position,

an element pushed by said pressure medium, and

means to convert the movement of said last mentioned element into turning of said cam device into shaft rocking position.

22. The separable strap connecting means as specified in claim 20, and

said force transmitting means including an extension on said shaft,

a cam pivoted in the female member and engageable with said extension to rock the shaft into prong releasing position,

a cylinder on the female member connected to a pressure medium supply,

a piston in said cylinder moved by pressure medium introduced in said cylinder,

a conduit extended from said cylinder to said cam,

an extension on said piston pushed into said conduit by said piston when subjected to the pressure medium,

means in said conduit operated by said piston extension to turn said cam for rocking said shaft into prong releasing position,

a manipulating lever pivoted on said female member,

and means of connection between said manipulatable member and said rocking shaft for rocking said shaft into prong releasing position by the manipulation of said lever independently of said cam device. 

1. In a single release device for a parachute harness, the combination with a harness having several webs for securing on a person of, connecting devices for securing said webs in harnessing position, a web holder part of each connecting device being releasable to free said web, means to hold said web holding part in connecting position, a gas pressure actuated member for releasing said holder means, a single gas pressure supply means, means to conduct said gas from said supply means to each of said gas pressure actuated members for simultaneously releasing said holding means, and a single manipulable device for said supply means carried on said harness to release said gas into all said conducting means.
 2. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and manipulatable means for disconnecting certain of said separable web connecting means independently of said pressure medium actuated devices.
 3. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 2, and said gas pressure supply means including a cartridge containing gas under pressure, A hollow closed container mounted on said harness and fixedly holding said cartridge, outlets from said hollow container, piercing elements adjacent the penetrable portion of said cartridge, said manipulatable means including a hand lever on the outside of said hollow body related to said piercing element for forcing said piercing element into said penetrable portion thereby to release the gas under pressure from said cartridge into said hollow container and to said outlets, said harness including a harness body fitting on the back of a person, said separable webs including shoulder straps extending from said harness body over the shoulders of a person and downwardly toward the legs, leg belts extending from said harness body around the thighs and then upwardly to be connected to said body, a chest belt intersecting the shoulder straps over the chest of a person, said separable connecting devices being respectively inter-connected in each shoulder strap, in each leg belt and in said chest belt.
 4. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 3, and a system of conduits connecting said outlet to the respective separable connecting devices for simultaneous releasing of said separable connecting devices.
 5. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and said harness including a harness body fitting on the back of a person, said several webs including shoulder straps extending from said harness body over the shoulders of a person and downwardly toward the legs, leg belts extending from said harness body around the thighs and then upwardly to be connected to said body, a chest belt intersecting the shoulder straps over the chest of a person, said separable connecting devices being respectively interconnected in each shoulder strap, in each leg belt and in said chest belt.
 6. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 5, and said gas pressure conducting means including a system of flexible conduits from said gas pressure supply means to each of said actuated members of the separable connecting devices respectively interconnected in said shoulder straps, leg belts and chest belt.
 7. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 6 wherein said system of flexible conduits includes a distributing chamber on the harness body.
 8. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 5, and each separable connecting device in said shoulder straps including a male and a female member, manipulatable means to release the male member from the female member, one of said members being connectable to a shroud, and said gas pressure actuated member being connected to the other member of said separable connection.
 9. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 8, and said separable connecting device including a frame, a fixed element of said frame connected to one strap, said web holder part being a pivoted strap holder for the other strap on said frame.
 10. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 9, and a hollow body in said frame between said strap holder elements, a releasable latch inter-connecting said pivoted element with said hollow body, a piston reciprocating in said hollow body for engaging and releasing said latch and to push said bar into releasing position when said gas pressure is introduced into said hollow body.
 11. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 5, and said separable connecting devices interconnected in said leg belts and said chest belt including a male member and a female member connected respectively to the separable portions of said belts, said male member being said releasable web holder part, engaging prongs on said male member, keeper pockets in said female member engageable by said prongS, said means to releasably hold said web holder part being means to releasably lock said prongs in said keeper pockets, means operated by said gas pressure actuated member to release said locking means, said manipulatable means for disconnecting certain of said separable web connecting means being connected to said locking means in said female member.
 12. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 11, and said locking means including a rocking shaft in said female member intersecting said keeper pockets having cut-away portions to complement said keeper pockets in releasing position, and said prongs having keeper recesses for engagement with said rocking shaft in the rocking position, said manipulatable means including a hand lever on the outside of the female member connected to said rocking shaft for manually rocking said shaft into prong releasing position.
 13. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 3, and said pressure actuated separable connecting device including a frame a fixed element of said frame connected to one strap, said releasable web holder holding the other strap and being pivoted on said frame so as to release said other strap when swung into releasing position, a releasable element on said frame to hold said pivoted web holder in strap connecting position, said releasable element being operated by said gas pressure actuated member, said separable connecting devices interconnected in said leg belts and said chest belt including a male member and a female member connected respectively to the separable portions of said belts, said male member being said releasable web holder part, engaging prongs in said male member, keeper pockets in said female member engageable by said prongs, means to releasably lock said prongs in said keeper pockets, means operated by said pressure medium to release said locking means, said manipulatable means for disconnecting certain of said separable web connecting means being connected to said locking means in said female member.
 14. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and said gas pressure supply means including a normally sealed cartridge containing gas under pressure, a hollow container for said cartridge having a closed chamber to receive said gas under pressure from said cartridge, outlets from said chamber connected to said pressure medium conducting means, means to open the seal of said cartridge to permit the escape of the gas under pressure therefrom, and said manipulatable means operating said seal opening means.
 15. The single release device for a parachute harness specified in claim 1, and said gas pressure supply means including a cartridge containing gas under pressure, a hollow closed container holding said cartridge, outlet from said hollow container connected to said pressure medium conducting means, a piercing element adjacent the sealed end of said cartridge, said manipulatable means including a hand lever on the outside of said hollow body for forcing said piercing element into said sealed end to release the gas under pressure from said cartridge.
 16. A separable strap connecting device comprising a frame, parallel strap holding sides on said frame, one of said strap holding sides being fixed, and the other strap holding side being pivoted to swing from a strap holding position into a strap releasing position, a locking bar pivoted on said fixed strap holding side and engaged with said pivoted strap holding side to hold said pivoted strap holding side in an initial strap connecting position, a hollow body in said frame between said strap holding sides, latch means connecting said locking bar to said hollow body in engagement with said pivoted strap holding side in strap connecting position, a pressure operated plunger engaging sAid latch for releasing said latch means when said plunger is operated in said cavity thereby to move said locking bar out of engagement from said pivoted strap holding side, and means to conduct a pressure medium into said hollow body for pushing said plunger to release said latch.
 17. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 16, and resilient means normally to urge said plunger into an initial position permitting the interlocking of said latch means between said bar and said hollow body.
 18. A separable strap connecting device comprising a male member connected to one strap, prongs on said male member, a female member having keeper pockets to receive said prongs and being adapted to be connected to another strap, releasable means to lock said prongs in said keeper pockets, means actuated by a pressure medium to release said locking means, and means to apply pressure medium to said pressure medium operated releasing means.
 19. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 18 and manipulatable means on said female member to release said locking means independently of said pressure medium operation.
 20. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 18, and said locking means being a rocking shaft having cut-away portions alignable with said keeper pockets in spring releasing position, said prongs having recesses therein engageable with said rocking shaft in the locking position of said shaft, and means to transmit the force of the pressure medium through said pressure medium actuated means to said rocking shaft so as to rock said shaft into spring releasing position.
 21. The separable strap connecting device specified in claim 20, and said force transmitting means including a cam device related to said rocking shaft for turning said rocking shaft into prong releasing position, an element pushed by said pressure medium, and means to convert the movement of said last mentioned element into turning of said cam device into shaft rocking position.
 22. The separable strap connecting means as specified in claim 20, and said force transmitting means including an extension on said shaft, a cam pivoted in the female member and engageable with said extension to rock the shaft into prong releasing position, a cylinder on the female member connected to a pressure medium supply, a piston in said cylinder moved by pressure medium introduced in said cylinder, a conduit extended from said cylinder to said cam, an extension on said piston pushed into said conduit by said piston when subjected to the pressure medium, means in said conduit operated by said piston extension to turn said cam for rocking said shaft into prong releasing position, a manipulating lever pivoted on said female member, and means of connection between said manipulatable member and said rocking shaft for rocking said shaft into prong releasing position by the manipulation of said lever independently of said cam device. 